Keeper Doni reveals Liverpool heart scare

Published on 02/02/2013 14:16

FORMER Liverpool goalkeeper Doni has explained his long absence from football by revealing he suffered a heart attack in the summer.

The 33-year-old Brazilian, whose last match for the Reds came on the final day of the 2011/12 season in May, has not featured in any squad since.

Liverpool, who refused to comment on Doni’s revelation, said it was for personal reasons but, after securing a deadline-day move back to his homeland to join Botafogo, the goalkeeper has explained the circumstances, which began while he was undergoing medicals at the club.

“I almost... I almost ended up on the other side. I had a heart attack for about 25 seconds,” the former Roma player told calciomercato.com in Italy: “I’ve been to one of the best doctors in Europe who looked at me carefully. He’s asked me to stop for a few months.” Doni also told Brazilian broadcaster Globo: “I always had an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) and during some tests in Liverpool suffered a cardiac arrest. I carried out checks across Europe and I had to extend my period of absence.”